“In this war, your father, Heidel, may fall.”
As soon as Liliana’s words reached Lyra’s ears, her expression shifted dramatically.
“Your Majesty, you…” Lyra’s eyes widened, and her breath caught slightly, disbelief evident on her face.
Liliana sighed softly, slowly raising her head to meet Lyra’s gaze with a look of guilt.
“Do you know the reason I stopped you from going to the battlefield?” Liliana asked quietly.
Lyra was momentarily stunned but eventually nodded, her pale expression betraying her unease.
“Of course I do, Your Majesty. You kept me from the battlefield to oversee the construction of the teleportation gate, correct?” Lyra replied confidently, though a note of uncertainty crept into her voice.
“Yes, you are correct,” Liliana replied softly, then continued in a heavy tone, “However, that’s not the entire truth. The main reason I’m keeping you from the battlefield is because it was your father, Heidel’s, request.”
Those words left Lyra feeling dazed, and she soon regained her composure, her heart racing faster and faster.
“Your Majesty, can you explain everything to me?” Lyra asked, suppressing her mounting anxiety.
Yet, no matter how hard she tried, unease tightened its grip on her like the roots of a tree.
Liliana paused for a moment, sipping her coffee as her expression gradually shifted back to indifference. After taking a sip, she set her cup down, took a deep breath, and lowered her gaze.
“Actually…” Liliana began, then she explained to Lyra the full story of what had happened.
Lyra listened intently, but with each word Liliana spoke, her complexion grew paler.
“So what you’re saying is that my father intends to die on the battlefield?” Lyra asked, her voice trembling.
“Yes, that was indeed his intention,” Liliana replied softly, a hint of sadness in her tone.
To be honest, she hadn’t intended to reveal this to Lyra, as she had already promised Heidel. However, a profound sense of guilt compelled her to share the truth.
After all, Lyra was not only her personal maid but also her only trusted friend.
Meanwhile, upon hearing Liliana’s answer, Lyra felt a sharp pain in her chest and bowed her head, trying to conceal her emotions.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Father?” She murmured softly, her voice laced with sorrow.
Liliana revealed that her father felt his time was near and wished to die honorably at the hands of heroes.
Although it was his choice, Lyra was overwhelmed with distress, especially since her father had never confided this in her.
Seeing Lyra tremble with grief, Liliana felt a heavy weight of guilt settle in her heart.
“This is my fault, Lyra. I’m truly sorry,” Liliana said quietly, biting her lower lip.
Lyra slowly lifted her head and shook it.
“You don’t need to apologize, Your Majesty. This is his choice, and it has nothing to do with you,” Lyra replied firmly, though her voice was slightly hoarse.
Liliana nodded slightly, yet the weight of guilt still clung to her.
“Your Majesty, may I have a moment to collect myself?” Lyra’s sudden request caught Liliana off guard, but she nodded slowly in response.
“Of course. Take as much time as you need, and come back when you feel ready,” Liliana replied gently.
She understood that Lyra was likely struggling to process this harsh truth and needed time to calm her thoughts.
Lyra felt a sense of relief and nodded, then bowed respectfully to Liliana.
“Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. In that case, I would like to take my leave,” she said respectfully.
Afterward, she lifted her head and walked slowly out of the workspace, leaving Liliana alone.
Watching her go, Liliana felt a momentary daze before letting out a helpless sigh.
“Is that truly your only option, Heidel?” Liliana murmured to herself as she leaned back in her chair.
Her bloodshot eyes gazed up at the bright blue sky, filled with sadness and despair.
As one of the eight arch-demons, Heidel was undeniably the most powerful figure in the Demon race after her and the only arch-demon she could truly trust, aside from Lyra.
Since childhood, Heidel had cared for her and guided her until she was finally ready to inherit the throne as Demon Emperor.
Without his support, Liliana was certain she would never have reached her current position.
She turned her gaze to her desk drawer, opening it to retrieve a black letter.
Though it appeared ordinary, a tremor ran through her as she held it.
Slowly, she unfolded the letter and began to read. After a moment, she closed it, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Since this is your choice, I will keep my promise, Heidel…”
…
Five hundred kilometers from the battlefield…
In the midst of the arid desert, under the scorching sun, a handsome man in a black mantle rode swiftly on his horse.
He wore a half-face mask that obscured part of his features, but anyone with a discerning eye could see the extraordinary handsomeness beneath it.
In perfect formation, thousands of cavalry clad in black armor followed closely, their presence creating a tense atmosphere that extended for meters around.
As the march continued, monsters of all sizes fled in terror, sensing the sinister aura radiating from the troops.
The masked man and the thousands of soldiers at his back were none other than Leon and the Demon army.
They were currently riding at an astonishing speed toward the battlefield. However, the sheer velocity of the horses left the entire Demon army in shock.
They had never imagined they could travel this fast on horseback, leading many to wonder if their mounts had been given a special potion before setting out.
Among the astonished soldiers, Kaelen Dorin was undoubtedly the most surprised.
The horse he was riding was his favorite, and he knew it couldn’t possibly run this fast.
Confusion washed over him as he tried to comprehend the situation.
In that moment, his gaze fell on Leon, who was just a few meters away, and a bold assumption sprang to mind.
“Is this all thanks to the general?” His eyes widened slightly, and he felt assured in his assumption.
Apart from Leon, Kaelen couldn’t think of anyone else capable of such a feat. The terrifying power Leon had displayed in the palace courtyard was still etched in his memory, reinforcing his confidence in his guess.
“General Leon is truly impressive,” he murmured in admiration.
Although he didn’t know much about Leon’s background and had only met him briefly, he sensed that his presence could bring victory to the Demon race on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Leon, riding at the front, gazed into the distance with his eyes slightly narrowed.
“In an hour, we should arrive at the battlefield,” he murmured softly, nodding to himself.
He raised his right hand, and a surge of holy power erupted, enveloping the entire Demon army. Almost instantly, the speed of the entire force began to increase, unnoticed by the soldiers.
Leon lowered his hand with a soft sigh. After using holy power to enhance the troops’ speed, his appearance naturally reverted to its original form.
Fortunately, he had brought the appearance-altering magical tool that Liliana had prepared for him before he left, allowing him to maintain his transformed appearance.
“By the way, since we still have two hours until we reach the battlefield, doesn’t that give me time to study the inheritance in the Codex of Noctis?” The thought crossed his mind, and Leon couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.
For someone who cherished reading like him, the Codex of Noctis was akin to a captivating bottle of wine.
By absorbing its inheritance, he not only had the chance to explore the life journey of Demon Emperor Amon Crimson but also to deepen his mastery over the power of chaos and the Great Sword of Chaos.
If he hadn’t had to leave for the battlefield today, he likely would have locked himself in his room or the library to delve into the mysteries of the Codex of Noctis, just as he had done so many times before.
Swiftly, Leon closed his eyes, and a golden star mark appeared on his forehead.
As the mark glowed with brilliant golden light, a black dot shot forth from his brow, expanding into a thick black book.
In perfect harmony with his golden star mark, the Codex of Noctis burst forth in radiant black light, and its first page opened.
Unable to contain his excitement, Leon closed his eyes again, eager to absorb the inheritance contained within.
However, after only fifteen minutes of absorbing the inheritance from the Codex of Noctis, a loud shout suddenly erupted from behind him.
“Hey! Look! What is that light over there?”
The shout startled Leon, causing him to open his eyes immediately.
As he turned his gaze forward, he was taken aback by the sight of a blue light piercing the sky.
“Huh? What is that?”